This site provides examples of instructional resources created in the Humanizing Online STEM Academy, a professional development program funded by the California Education Learning Lab and administered by the Foothill DeAnza Community College District.
Before participating in this professional development course, I was unsure how to design courses that authentically humanize the online learning experience. While I valued kindness and inclusion, I hadn’t yet explored how visual and auditory cues, emotional intelligence, and low-friction AI tools could work together to foster belonging and support identity development for my students—especially in digital or Hyflex environments. My course evolution over the past two years has been earnest but fragmented. Thanks to this training, I now see a more cohesive pathway to embedding these elements meaningfully into my syllabus and first-week experiences.
I now feel far more prepared to intentionally design experiences that affirm students' identities, reduce barriers, and cultivate resilience. I’ve gained practical tools to embed emotional intelligence and reflection directly into early course activities, including modules where students identify potential obstacles to their success. These design shifts are supported by smart AI tools and curated links that guide students with clarity and compassion. My understanding of kindness as pedagogy has deepened, and I’m rethinking my approach to transfer—not as a bureaucratic goal, but as a core expression of a student’s growth as an engineer.
This summer and fall, I plan to fully integrate humanizing design elements into my courses, particularly in online and Hyflex settings. In place of disconnected policies or resources, students will encounter clear, emotionally supportive entry points—including reflection activities, identity-building prompts, and AI-powered guides that help them define and pursue their path in engineering. My priority is to make growth visible and expected, especially for students navigating uncertainty. I’m optimistic that by embedding these tools and mindsets early, I’ll see tangible evidence of student confidence, clarity, and persistence by the end of Fall 2024
The Liquid Syllabus I’ve designed acts as a welcoming and interactive launchpad for students, giving them early access to the course’s structure, values, and expectations—before the first day of class. It highlights core strategies for success and previews the first week's activities, including identity-building reflections and AI-guided tools that help students begin mapping their path in engineering. By sharing my personal and professional story alongside my teaching philosophy, I aim to build trust and human connection from the outset. The syllabus also includes a course pact, emotional intelligence touchpoints, and smart links to essential campus and transfer resources—underscoring my commitment to a supportive, inclusive, and purpose-driven learning journey.
I believe this is the pinnacle of achievement. Capturing a moment where students from traditionally underrepresented groups engage in teamwork, collaboration, and celebration during the Education Flight Week of the Reduced Gravity Office's Minority University Research Education Program at CalPoly.
A homepage that greets visitors with a warm welcome, promising an inclusive and respectful learning environment that appreciates the unique backgrounds and viewpoints of all students. Furthermore, it emphasizes the commitment to meet individual learning requirements and actively invites feedback to improve the inclusivity and efficacy of the course.
I aim to be a supportive instructor, assisting students throughout their journey in the course. To achieve this, I conduct a survey at the start to gather information that enables me to support their individual goals and learning needs effectively. My goal is to help them either define or refine their own definition of success.
The Wisdom Wall features a compilation of "learning stories" from previous students, shared with the current class. By engaging with these narratives, present students realize that encountering challenges is a common part of the learning journey. They gain insights into effective strategies for success, as articulated by their predecessors. This initiative promotes a sense of community by linking students through shared experiences and underscores the concept of ability as an evolving attribute, rather than an innate trait.
This video is designed to assist students in acquiring a new skill required for one of their capstone team projects. It kicks off with an energetic and motivational youth video clip to invigorate the students. Following this, it seamlessly transitions into a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to download a specific subset of data from a vast global dataset available on the United Nations website.
This microlecture is specifically crafted to empower students with the ability to analyze DC circuits through the application of Ohm's Law (SLO).
Recognized as the cornerstone of the entire course, Ohm's Law is essential for students to master, as it lays the foundation for the analysis of various types of circuits. By fully understanding and applying Ohm's Law, students will unlock the ability to navigate and dissect the complexities of circuit analysis with confidence.
The aim of this microlecture is not just to introduce Ohm's Law as a theoretical concept but to provide students with the tools and knowledge to apply it practically in real-world scenarios.
